The Grocery Shrink Blog

Instead of towels embroider an apron...

The blank canvas for this proejct was an inexpensive pruchased butcher style apron.  I made it special for a gift by adding a free motion embroidery pattern using the same method as in the towel tutorial here.  I had never met the bride before the shower, but I watched her fiance grow up at our church and wanted to show my support.  Her registry showed her kitchen was black, tan and red and I took a risk on the style. She seemed to like it a lot and was surprised when she opened it.

The red ruffles are 2 inch bias cut strips of linen that I put through the ruffling foot.  The edges are left raw and soft and the rose is made from the same strip but pleated on the end instead of in the middle.  I just rolled it up and hotglued it as I went.  A piece of felt and pinback finished the back.  Then I curled the outer petals back to make it look more rose like.

 
This whole project was very fast to make.  I threw it together made it carefully right before I left for the wedding shower.  It's nice to have alternatives and still make a one of a kind gift when time is really short.   

Refashioning: The Zebra Skirt

My friend, Jamie from California, saw this skirt in a thrift store and knew it would be perfect for her friend. . .as a pillow.  The fabric has a beautiful touch to it and the lining is high quality and very silky and soft.  She packaged it all up to me with handwritten instructions.  In a few days I mailed back this:

The lining is now a coordinating ruffle, and Jamie even had the great idea to use the tags for decoration on the front, to remind the pillow what it had been.

 For those of you wondering if I do custom work, I used to.  I'm focusing my time right now on my kitchen remodel, my kiddoes, and new patterns to publish.  Jamie is very special.  She's the kind of girl that sends you $100 when your husband loses his job and I would do anything for her that was possible.  I didn't consider this a custom project, just a gift from one friend to another.

I'm Back!

I took a little break from blogging when I broke my computer and got the flu then had a wreck and tore up my bathroom (okay 2 of them) and took on custom sewing projects to keep me busy until next March.  But I lay awake at night pondering the genious of other bloggers and finally stole away a few hours today to put a little update in.  First of all I'd like to show you our make do costumes for our Reforamation day party a few months ago.  Many of you wrote to me in response to my plea for help in the Grocery Shrink newsletter several months ago and these costumes were inspried by your ideas.

Caleb went as Alexandar Doniphan in a thrift store sport coat and vintage navy hat.

Heidi went as Florence Nightingale and she designed her costume after a portrait of Miss Nightingale we found online.  It was the sleeves that HAD to be, according to Miss Heidi.

W.D. and Brandon were dressed as Christian Missionary Vikings Lief Ericson and crew. My mom made the hats out of paper mache and craft paint with fur felt trim and my sister-in-law Erica (who is a creative genius) made the beard out of Lion brand homespun yarn by pulling it through a felt frame and attaching an elastic strap to hold it in place. I sure appreciate their help since I waited until the last 2 days to start on homemade costumes!

And Heather went as Elizabeth Hopkins, the pilgrim who gave birth to Oceanus on the Mayflower.

 
 
 

Two new tutorials

I found two new tutorials for you.  The first one is another recycled towel bathmat from tipnut.  This one utilizes cute fabrics too and is machine washable and less linty than the tied mat posted eariler. Click the photo to go to the instructions.

The next tutorial is from Jenny at Pearl Street Interiors.  Jenny gives you step by step instructions for turning the ugly cheap mini-blinds into stylish roman shades.  I love this!  It is so genious.  Click the photo to get the tutorial.

Preemie Knotted Hat Pattern Download

Here's a great free pattern for you.  Make a hat in 10 minutes and donate it to your local Pro-life Clinic or Newborns in Need.  It also makes a cute package topper fro your next baby shower gift.  This is my favorite baby hat because the knot helps it stay on, its super soft, and it looks so cute!  It is best sized for babies weighing 4-7 lbs.  My model, Brandon was a plump 9 lbs and though the hat worked, it was plenty snug.  Click here to get the pattern.

Sew a Prairie Princess Skirt

Here's a tutorial for you for a darling skirt that you can make to fit a child or grown person of any size.  It is fast and simple to put together and makes a great last minute birthday gift.

 

Prairie Princess Skirt Tutorial

Reuseable Sandwich and Snack Bags

Have you seen the Wrap n Mat?  It is a reuseable Sandwich bag that runs about $8 each.  The average sandwich baggie costs $.05 each.  You would need to use your Wrap N Mat 160 times just to break even.  On the plus side, it is already made, and the lining is guaranteed lead free, PBA free, phthalate-freephthalate-free, and food safe.

A twist on the wrap in mat, is a rip-stop nylon lined bag with velcro closure found here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6941342.  The cost is simlar to a Wrap in Mat, but is plastic free and made by a Work at Home Mom!  The fabrics are definintely cuter too.

 

If you can sew, your opportunity to save money is expanded!  There are a couple of tutorials out there to make your own reusable lunch ware.

http://frenchsleepdeprivationstudy.blogspot.com/2009/06/snack-bag-tutorial.html

This tutorial tells you every detail on how to recycle mylar snack bags (like potato chips come in) into your own sandwich bags.  These use elastic and buttons to close which makes washing them easier than with velcro.  They are super cute too!

This one recommends PUL for the lining, but you could substitute nylon fabric if that makes you feel better.

http://wewilsons.blogspot.com/2009/02/reusable-snack-bag-tutorial.html

Or try this one.  It's a unique shape that looks easy to make and use.

http://www.craftstylish.com/item/43227/how-to-make-a-reusable-sandwich-wrap

 

This last one I love, because it uses a freezer weight zip-loc baggie and turns it into a washable sandwich wrap.  It's easier to wash than a traditional baggie, is already food grade, and will last a loooong time.

http://www.towards-sustainability.com/2008/03/homemade-sandwich-wrap.html

Cutting back on dishes and laundry the frugal way

With 5 children and a husband hanging around all day, I've been washing my fair share of glasses and cloth napkins.  We tried to cut back on the dishes by writing the kids names on plastic cups.  That wasn't a good fit for my personality :).  When one child was thirsty, I had to dig through countless cups until I found one with his name on it.  Usually I wasn't patient enough to find the cup and assured the child that whoever's name was on the cup would be glad to share it.  The consequence was that I never could remember who drank out of which cup and I was washing some 21+ cups a day.  We're going through that many napkins too which has been adding up to a lot of laundry.

I had a brain spark this week after seeing those adorable coffee cup cozies.  I've been wishing for a reason to sew one, but we don't drink coffee.  Then I thought if each child chose their favorite fabric from my stash, I could make them their own cup sleeve and matching napkin.  We would all know whose is who's--and they can use the same cup and napkin all day. I used the tutorial from House on Hill Road for the cozy and it was perfect.  Here's a quick peek at the first 3 cozies.

 

Inexpensive Christmas Idea: Crayon wrap, crayon apron, or crayon tote

Consider the joy a box of crayon brings! (And for only twenty cents for a 24 color box.)  Some of the cutest coloring books can be found at $1 shops too!  A ream of inexpensive white paper for completely orginal artistic expressions makes the gift complete.  Have time to sew?  Why not make an adorable crayon roll to hold them all together? Crayon boxes don't hold up very long and it can be hard to see the color you want--crayon rolls don't have that problem.  And they don't make a sound if you accidentally drop one during church!  For a great tutorial try this one from Skip to My Lou:  http://www.skiptomylou.org/2007/04/25/on-a-roll/

 

Go a step further and make a crayon apron so the little artist will always have her tools at hand!  Here's a tutorial for a simple butcher style apron:  http://djsgemstones.blogspot.com/2008/07/easy-crayon-apron-for-little-artist-in.html  There are also some adorable half apron styles available from Cberry at her Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5375558  

A crayon tote keeps all your crayons handy and gives you a place to store your coloring books and drawing paper.  I can see this on a cute hook in a child's room keeping everything ready to go and easy to grab for an outing. I have misplaced my source for this picture--so if you own it, please e-mail me so I can give you credit and a link to your store!

Handmade Christmas for 18" dolls.

You Can Make This dot Com, has a couple of great free patterns out for 18" doll skirts.  They are designed for Toys for Tots.  I love this idea.  Our Christmas budget is pretty tight , but I have tons of fabric scraps.  My 8yo and 5yo daughters and I whipped out the wrap skirt this afternoon in less than an hour.  My 8yo was able to put every stitch in herself. I plan to get her started on a pile of skirts for Toys for Tots.  I'll upload a picture when I get my digital camera back. (It's a long story)  Get your free patterns here:  http://youcanmakethis.com/info/free/FREE-Make-Twirls-for-Girls-for-Toys-for-Tots.htm